Motor skills training for youth, junior and top level athletes : TAITOC Pro Ice Hockey

Abstract

The pace of ice hockey has increased over the past years and more demands are put on the skills of the players. The player and the goalkeeper must have both the motor and cognitive capabilities to face the challenges that emerge on the ice. As the game speeds up within physical domain of execution, it is difficult to stand out. Nevertheless, enhanced observation, faster decision-making and a well-developed coordinative ability can make a difference in cognitive speed within sports performance. Skill has traditionally been viewed largely through the lens physical constructs. Nowadays, however, sports experts have started viewing skills from cognitive perspective as well. The same elements can be seen within skilled performances, where movement solutions are always slightly individual depending on game situations and one’s own methods of performing a skill or task. Motor skills can be divided into different categories according to different classification systems. Adaptive training, mastery of fundamental skills in a variety of settings, the development of coordinative skills and the conditions of movements, have been shown to benefit motor learning and development. Sports analysis can be used to consider the kind of motor skills are specifically needed in ice hockey and which skills contribute to the development of mastery of the skills required in this particular sport to improve performance on ice and decrease the risk of overuse injuries. Motor learning can manifest itself in several different ways as the learner’s development path is unique and has a non-linear nature. Although, the end result is most often seen as an improvement in the quality of physical performance, learning in development is as important contributor in athletes’ journey. Based on a sport analysis of ice hockey and motor learning theories, TAITOC Pro Ice Hockey was developed as an off-ice motor skill training tool to promote transfer effect between physical and sport specific motor demands of ice hockey skills. It consists of coach education materials which include theory, skill assessment tools, and practice plans containing all materials.